Sean Whalen, President and Founder of the Utah Warriors was kind enough to sit down with This Is American Rugby for a chat. He opens up about the Super League, 7's, Highland High School, the Eagles, and more.
This Is American Rugby: Now that you have completed your first year, how do you feel it is going on and off the field?
TIAR: Are you pleased by the response of the rugby community in Utah?
SW: Rugby has a HUGE base of fans in Utah. We were able to put things together this year and get Warrior Nation started, and the Utah Warriors loves the fans and loves Warrior Nation!
TIAR: You stated at the beginning of last year that planned on playing at Rio Tinto Stadium (home of Real Salt Lake) but ended up playing at the University of Utah. What caused the change?
SW: There were circumstances that caused us to not have Rio Tinto work out as planned. We would have loved to play there, but because of timing, getting accepted into the league and other considerations it did not work for us to call that home this year. Maybe next year if things allow.
TIAR: Where do you plan on playing next year? Is the new soccer complex on Redwood Road and I-215 with its championship field a possibility?
SW: Rio Tinto is a great facility and we are still looking there as a possibility to play a game or two. Candidly the Warriors have many options around Salt Lake County for playing in 2012. One thing is for sure, the Warriors will have a schedule much further in advance next year and will be able to rally and grow Warrior Nation to be able to come support the team. We will absolutely have a top level facility next year where we will play our home matches.
TIAR: Does the lack of concessions and ticket sales at the University of Utah affect your ability to get sponsorships and your ambitions to one day professionalize the team?
SW: Not at all. In fact we did not seek out any sponsors year one, and have yet to seek out any sponsors in year two yet. That is not to say we will not consider or look at a sponsorship, but I wanted to build the value of this team before looking for a financial partner. We received a significant amount of press year one, year two will be an opportunity for us to grow that even more, and I believe it will be a great opportunity to start talking with some sponsors as they see the continued growth with the Warriors.
TIAR: Because the Warriors are a new kind of team in the Super League, some worried about the financial health of the club in the long-term. How are the finances of the team looking?
SW: Team and finances are looking good. I never intended to just toy around with the team, or with the Super League. I see the future of rugby growing in America, and I want to be an intricate part of that growth. Having the Warriors be a solid, stable and growing entity will allow us to showcase what can be done with a little vision and financing. I suspect there will be many more Utah Warrior type "teams" built as an organization in the near future.
TIAR: Do feel that lack in number of regular season Super League games has a negative impact on your visibility in the community? If so, how? How do you go about compensating for that?
SW: Absolutely. One agenda item for the summer Super League meeting is the expansion and growth of not only the league but of the games played. I absolutely want to see more games. I'd love to have a 6-8 game home season. I can see that happening over the next few years. In the mean time we compensate for that by making each home game in 2012 a MAJOR event! We have a few curtain raiser games before the Warrior games, and we produce each game as almost a concert like event. Lots of excitement, lots of "hands on" for the fans.
TIAR: How are you reaching out to the media?
SW: We have been fortunate to have a lot of media covering the team. We want to put out a good product, and we hope the media will report on the movements and growth of the team. Having the media cover the team is a big deal and we greatly appreciate the media support!
TIAR: What are you doing to lure new people out to watch Warriors games?
SW: Facebook has been a great marketing tool for us and we will continue to work the social media avenues. Next season we will roll out a few additional marketing efforts. Expect to see the Utah Warriors and Warrior Nation everywhere you look!
TIAR: There has been some debate about moving the rugby season to the Fall rather than the Spring. Would that be something the Warriors might potentially support?
SW: It should would help with regards to weather. I don't like the idea as much because it conflicts with Football, and truthfully rugby is not big enough yet to compete with football. It will be someday, but not yet. I like the fact we as a team, and the public now have a sport to attach to in the spring.
TIAR: You've had several players play for the national team since you began. Is it your goal to produce national team players?
SW: It's not the goal or ambition to farm the players or grow those players, but it's our goal to run an organization that will be competitive on a global scale that we can attract top national talent. I believe we have had some players seeking us out and wanting to come play with the Warriors because they know our organization will take care of them and treat them right. This is only getting better. With the opening of the Warriors training facility this fall, we will only be attracting more and more top level national talent to come play with the Warriros.
TIAR: Did John van der Giessen approach the team, or did the team approach him about playing with the Warriors after his time with Bath? (Would you like to approach more returning national team players?)
SW: John came home to get ready for the Cup. He did not really have anywhere to play, so instead of being up in Idaho working to stay in shape, we invited him to come play with us to stay in shape. I think it would be a wise move on every Super League's team to open up their arms to National Players. Look, we all want to win the Super League Championship, but everyone I know in the Super League is looking to grow and expand rugby. We would be stupid not to look for opportunity as a league and as individual teams to get those guys who will be playing on the National team, to play with us to stay in shape. The Super League has the best players in the country, plain and simple. Having John play with a D1 team, or a club team does him no good. He needs to be refining his skills with the best players America has, and that is why he and others should be playing in the Super League to get ready to represent the USA on a global scale. I would absolutely love to have John back and would love to have as many top level players who are interested in playing come talk with the Warriors.
TIAR: This is your first season of 7's rugby, how has that been going?
SW: This was our first season for the 7's team and we are 14-0 so far, and we just won the Pacific Region Championships. I believe we have the best 7's team in the country, plain and simple. We will shortly find out at Nationals, but if I was a betting man (which I am) I would put my money on the Warriors 7's being National Champions in their very first year. Not a bad way to launch!
TIAR: In your press release you stated that the Warriors 7's team would "consist of many of the best USA Sevens and US Eagles players." Which players have you been able to attract?
SW: Mike Palefau was with the Warriors 15's Super league team. He has been one the 7's team, and he is one of the best all around rugby players in America. He is a brilliant rugby talent and great guy to have on the team. We also have Jason Pye who has played for the Eagles 7's squad. Another brilliant rugby mind. There area few more players that have dabbled with the National team, but these tow guys are probably the best in the business.
TIAR: Have you approached either BYU or Utah about staging an exhibition 7's match during halftime of one of their football games? If not, is that something you are looking to do?
SW: Not yet, but that is a great idea! We will have to look into that!
TIAR: Do you think the future of rugby in this country is in the 7's game or in the 15's game?
SW: I can see both taking off. I see rugby as a sport generating momentum at a rapid pace. I think 15's will be easier for America to grab on to. It's so close to football, I think it'll be easy, but 7's has the sheer excitement that people will love. I can see 15's being set up and structured much like the NFL with multiple teams across America, and 80 minute games being played in big stadiums. I think that concept is close to happening. I can see 7's being more of a circuit structure where you will have 2-3 day tournaments across America multiple times a year.
TIAR: You recently took over the Highland rugby programme. What are your plans for the programme? Do you plan to change much of what Coach Gelwix has put into place over the last 30 years?
SW: Larry Gelwix has built a dynasty. He is the most winning coach in the world. It will be hard to top what he has done. Whatever the Warriors can do to help Highland rugby to continue on the tradition to stay on top of rugby we will do.
TIAR: What do you think is the best thing for growing rugby in this country?
SW: I believe rugby just needs a chance. Without exception every single person I know who has ever seen a rugby game in person has loved it! I think that is what we need. We need people to just give it a small chance, and I will grow on them. The rugby community needs to know that right now money is not the name of the game, it's exposure. The more exposure we can give rugby in America, to America, the faster and larger it will grow.
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